Tagged: X-Men Gold

Last week we had something old in X-Men Gold #1, with the veterans of the currently in-continuity corner of the Marvel Universe. I dare say, if you’ve read that single issue yet that they also gave you something borrowed (e.g. the name of the central villain). This week Marvel wants to bring you something new and something blue, in X-Men Blue #1. How successful are they? That’s for you, dear readers, to decide.

The time-displaced X-Men originals are launching a new chapter of their own adventures. If you’ve been looking to see the classic X-Men team of the Lee and Kirby kicking bad guys in the face front and center here’s your opportunity. Marvel Girl leads Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, and Angel in this first issue establishing old and new threats to the original Fab Five. However, how will this team of old school X-Men deal with their new mentor, their formerly sword enemy, Magneto! If you’ve been following the Master of Magnetism’s journey over the last few years you get a sense that there’re going to be a lot of clashes right from the get-go. Will this team be broken before it can truly function together?

In the wake of Inhumans Vs. X-Men, this is going to be the team you lean on for a note of nostalgia and, Marvel seems to hope, a way to bring younger readers a taste of something that feels fresh. Since retro’s a thing that I’m told’s mostly “in” these days, this would appear to be Marvel’s way of reaching out to that demographic. Can you put a new shine on a classic line up? Will there be enough new and enough familiar in a perfect recipe of easy to digest comic adventures? We’re going to find out this New Comic Book Day when X-Men Blue #1 hits shelves.

Cullen Bunn is no stranger to Magneto or tackling complex villains and delicate group dynamics. Will he, along with explosive artists Jorge Molina and Matteo Buffagni, bring us the next renaissance of X-Men stories? We have to read to find out.

There’s going to be a big question developing an answer over the next few months: Are you Team Gold or Team Blue? This week we get our first taste of the former as the Resurrxion of the X-Men franchise looks to build off of last week’s status quo establishing one-shot, X-Men Prime #1. This week? X-Men Gold #1 hits shelves. Who’s leading? Who’s following? Is this truly a return to the great X-Men stories of lore?

Coming out of the Inhumans Vs. X-Men, Kitty Pryde will take on the role of team leader for a squad of what Marvel’s billing as the most iconic X-Men. Let’s take a look at the roster and see if you agree: Storm (true). Colossus (pretty true?). Nightcrawler (true). Old Man Logan (kind of true). Prestige (Rachel Grey re-branded). Not an uninteresting line-up. Right now things look rough for mutantkind (when hasn’t it?). But Kitty Pryde’s X-Men are set with a mission and a purpose: to be heroes and defend even those who fear them. There’s no easy path to go down, and time will be needed to see if the X-Men can win back all the hearts and minds of those who distrust them, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Can X-Men Gold #1 help build a place again in your heart and on your pull lists for the merry mutants?

Okay, that didn’t quite have the ring of Professor X’s iconic rallying cry. However, that looks to be the new mutant status quo that Marvel is setting up after the eventful events of Inhumans Vs. X-Men. There’s no question that that dark chapter in X-Men history has left the merry band of mutants in a very difficult and not necessarily popular place. However, for longtime fans awaiting the return to prominence for this franchise, it was the springboard into what will be a slew of new X-titles. It all begins here with X-Men Prime #1 (no relation to the one-shot of similar name after the original “Age of Apocalypse”saga).

Kitty Pryde is one of the most beloved X-Men characters of all-time. She’s for the most part been able to stay squeakier and cleaner than many of the other X-Men in the past few years. Since Kitty missed all the hubbub with that pesky war of Emma Frost’s recently, Kitty is visited by Storm and is asked to lead the X-Men back into good graces of the world. It’s a tall order. It’s a nice bit of coming full circle and suddenly the new X-Men status quo is going to resemble a little of what the Ultimate Universe’s version was for a little while there after the awful happenings of Ultimatum. Kitty will be charged with leading the mutant cause in a world that fears them and many enemies (new, old, you name ’em) will be amping up.

How will Kitty Pryde begin the path of progress and Resurrxion for some of Marvel’s most important characters and properties? You can find out in X-Men Prime #1 . Get to the shop early or else do as Rogue would suggest, “Pull it or lose it, Sugar.”

For more on the upcoming X-Men Resurrxion that Marvel has us salivating for, here’s a trailer from the House of Ideas laying out when all of the new X-Men series will be fighting their way to your shelves:

I’ll admit, I’m a little late to this party, mostly because I initially overlooked this title last week. I’m already pulling a ton (2) X-titles on monthly basis, so I figured I could trade wait Amazing. But then I got a free digital code for it, and decided to check it out, because free is great.

With that explained, let’s me start off with saying the Ed McGuinness‘ art is PERFECT in this book. His style, a mixture of classic John Byrne and 90s Capcom, really captures the script well, the character looks iconic and fresh. Also his BAMFS are super cute. The strong inks and colors only improve it, and Amazing is already on par with it’s sister books, which says a lot given the talent attached to those books. It’s nice to see Ed given a chance to work with a writer I really dig, sorry not sorry Jeph Loeb.

Veteran X-writer Jason Aaron‘s script is also flawless, mixing action and comedy for a perfect first issue. Bringing back a beloved fan-favorite character like Nightcrawler is no simple task, but these creators definitely meet and surpass those expectations. With Wolverine and the X-men ending in a few months, Amazing X-men is positioning itself quite well as the heir to the most dynamic X-book on the stands.

All New X-men #18

Brian Michael Bendis/ Stuart Immonen

Marvel, $3.99, 20 pages

Kitty Pryde and the original X-men find themselves in a new school, new uniforms and new classmates this week in ANXM. Fresh from Battle of the Atom, Benis and Immonen use this issue to set up the new status quo, as the X-kids deal with the insanity that’s gone down over the last few months. This also means an insane amount of drama and a ton of dialogue, which is to be expected from a Bendis-penned X-book.

Stuart Immonen is probably my favorite artist working at Marvel at the moment, as the level of talent he brings to this book is crazy. He’s tasked with drawing an insane amount of X-men, and each of them are unique (well except 2 of the triplets, which is kind of the point) and dynamic, despite most of the issue involved mutants standing around and talking. The new uniforms, something my wife described as Power Rangers-esque, are really neat, although would have preferred to see Jean in White and Gold instead of White and Green. Apparently I’m a costume fashion snob.

Brian Bendis’script is a very by the numbers talking-heads-Bendis script. Which isn’t a bad thing mind you, as the title is coming off a crossover and needs some time to breathe. It’s just something we see a lot from Bendis. Regardless of what my snark may imply, it’s a cute issue to start off year 2 of ANXM, and I’m excited for the new issue dropping in a few short weeks.

X-men Gold is a one shot in honor of the X-men’s 50th Anniversary, and is basically classic X-men continuity porn.

Let me be honest, if you haven’t read a X-men book before Grant Morrison started writing for the franchise in 2001, this is not the book for you. The “newest” story in this book canon-wise is a Fatal Attractions tie-in/Onslaught prequel. Which kids, are events that happened in the mid 90s. It’s definitely a old-school throwback, and at times, not even a good one, at it comes across a tad sexist and racist depending on the story. And it’s worth noting that at least 14 of the 60 pages are previews for Amazing and All-New X-men. It’s not for everyone, and even the intended audience may have some problems with this one.

Superior Foes of Spider-Man #5

Nick Spencer/Steve Lieber

Marvel $2.99, 20 pages

This book is perfection.

It really is! Everything from the cover to the last page is great, without a misstep in site. Spencer and Lieber’s formula is no different than the one BKV and Fiona Staples use over in Saga; start off awesome, and end with a crazy, shocking (no pun intended) cliffhanger. I don’t think I’ve read a heist in comics before this insane, nor hilarious. And the intro for this issue is CRAZY tense, and kind of gross, but in a good way. This book is a blessing, and it’s gone from great to can’t miss in the span of 5 issues. This book is up there with Hawkeye and Daredevil in terms of quality, something I know I’ve said a number of times before, and will continue to say until sales and morale improves. I mean c’mon it’s like Forever Evil, only no I suppose not come to think of it, and actually good!